BAGUIO CITY – The long Fil-Am Golf season officially began at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay golf courses last Nov. 23, as players from the lower flights of the regular and seniors side started their practice rounds. A total of 230 teams expected to see action in 18 days of play for the 67th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.
Games will actually start on Saturday, November 26 after the ceremonial tee at both golf courses on Friday.
Dubbed as a tough edition, organizers expect more than 1,200 amateur par busters from the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Australia and the US joining the world’s biggest amateur golf event.
“This will be a tough Fil-Am golf just like last year,” said CJH Golf Club manager Tim Allen of the event presented by San Miguel.
“The course is in perfect shape,” BCC spokesperson Andrew Pinero said earlier as they expect top seniors teams San Miguel – Northern Cement and Pugo Adventures to be at each other’s throats when competition for the Seniors Fil Championship flight begins on Sunday.
San Miguel nipped Pugo last year for the top plum in the seniors division. San Miguel – Northern Cement II returns to defend in both Fila nd Am championship divisions with Pugo and Manila Southdwoods, respectively.
Pugo Adventures, the 65th edition Fil-Championship seniors champ, meanwhile, is raring to get back the title it lost to San Miguel – Northern Cement in a dramatic finish last year and will return with a practically intact line up.
Competitions this first week will be on the lower regular flight of F, G and H and the seniors side while the higher flights including the championship division will see action in the second week.
The Fil-Am golf is also backed by Toyota, Petron, Magnolia, SMC Global Power, Northern Cement, San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, Manor at Camp John Hay, Forest Lodge, Empire, CJH Development Corporation, Baguio Country Club, Le Chef, and the CJH Trade and Cultural Center, and Mizuno.
By Dexter A. See
